If you decide to try sleep medications, the following guidelines and precautions are suggested.
Follow directions closely, starting with a very small dose and increasing gradually, according to the doctor’s schedule. Find out whether you should take your medication with or without food. For some medications, certain foods must be avoided. Most sleeping pills should be taken on an empty stomach.
Tell your doctor about other medications you are taking. This includes non-prescription medications such as pain relievers and allergy medicines, and herbal supplements. Combining medications can be very dangerous.
Make sure that your doctor is aware of other medical conditions that you have. Some drugs can have serious side effects for people with other medical problems. Examples of these problems include high blood pressure, liver problems, glaucoma, depression and breathing problems.
Carefully read the package insert that comes with your medication. Pay careful attention to the potential side effects that it describes.
Only take a sleeping pill when you will have enough time to get a full night of sleep (7 to 8 hours). Otherwise you may feel drowsy the next day.
If appropriate, use the medications intermittently, rather than nightly, in order to decrease the negative effects and to increase the effectiveness when you do use them. Be sure to check with your doctor as some medications cause withdrawal side effects when stopped abruptly.
Never drink alcohol near the time when you take a sleeping pill. Never drink alcohol in an attempt to fall asleep faster. Not only will alcohol disrupt your sleep even more, it can dangerously interact with the sleeping pill.
Never drive a car or operate machinery after taking a sleeping pill. Especially when you first start taking a new sleep aid, you may not know how it will affect you, so proceed with caution the next day.
Ask your doctor for specific instructions for decreasing and/or terminating use. In some cases, stopping medication abruptly can cause uncomfortable side effects and even rebound insomnia
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